206 



RETURN FROM HUNTING. 



[1825. 



their heads and shoulders, which, having no covering, presented no im- 

 pediment to the full operation of our sharp arguments. 



After we had rested a little from the fatigue of half an hour's hard 

 fighting, we proceeded to inspect the field of battle, on which we found 

 seventeen of the enemy, lying in the sleep of death. The counte- 

 nance of the chief who fell by my musket still wore the smile of 

 derision caused by the affected awkwardness with which I was dis- 

 mounting in order to bring my musket to bear at his heart. On our 

 part, we had not lost a man, though only one escaped without a wound. 

 Four of us were wounded in several places, and I felt considerable 

 uneasiness on that account, until my companions assured me that the 

 Indians of Sonora y Sinaloa were ignorant of the art of poisoning 

 arrows ; and I afterward discovered that Humboldt and La Perouse 

 both attest to the same fact. 



The fruits of our victory were eleven fine horses, a dozen bows, 

 several wooden spears, the points of which were very sharp, and had 

 evidently been hardened in the fire, and arrows without number. Our 

 loss was seven men wounded ; three horses killed, and two wounded : 

 missing none. I then proposed that we should unite in returning our 

 acknowledgments to the great Disposer of events, who had given us the 

 victory against such a great disparity of force, and saved us from sudden 

 death, or a horrible captivity. This duty being performed, we col- 

 lected our spoils and our game, with which we loaded some of our 

 led horses, and soon set out on our return to St. Diego, at which place 

 we arrived in safety, about eight o'clock the next morning ; much 

 fatigued from fighting, travelling, and the want of sleep for twenty- 

 nine hours. 



Our adventure with the Indians soon became rumoured about, and 

 the whole town was immediately in a state of alarm. The good padre 

 of the mission, with most of his flock, thronged about us, offering their 

 congratulations on our safety, and the old priest actually shed tears as 

 he audibly returned thanks to Heaven for our deliverance from such 

 imminent danger. My companions related the story in their own 

 way, and interlarded it with so many unmerited compliments to the 

 courage, and coolness, and calmness of " Senor Capitan Morrell," as 

 they termed me, that I felt quite ashamed of it — as every man did his 

 duty nobly, and not one of them was the least deficient in those quali- 

 ties which they so liberally attributed to me. Heaven favoured our 

 cause, or skill and courage would have been totally unavailable. Yet 

 still I feel it a duty to seize every occasion to recommend coolness 

 and calmness to every one who may be placed in scenes of danger, 

 especially where the conduct of others will depend greatly upon his 

 own. 



It was with feelings of sincere affection and regret that I took leave 

 of the friends and acquaintances I had acquired during our short stay 

 at St. Diego. The good old padre of the mission gave me his 

 blessing, and made me promise never to pass the port without stop- 

 ping for repose and refreshment. 



April 23d. — On Saturday, at four P. TVL, we got under way, and 

 left the harbour of St. Diego, with the wind from west-north-west, and 



